{{Short description|Television station in Abilene, Texas}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox television station | callsign = KXVA | city = | logo = Fox West TX logo.svg | branding = {{ubl|Fox West Texas|MyTV Abilene (15.2)}} | digital = 15 (UHF) | virtual = 15 | subchannels = | translators = ''see {{section link||Translators}}'' | affiliations = {{ubl|'''15.1:''' Fox|'''15.2:''' Independent with MyNetworkTV|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}} | owner = Tegna Inc., a subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group | licensee = LSB Broadcasting, Inc. | location = Abilene, Texas | country = United States | founded = June 29, 2000 | airdate = {{start date|2001|01|18}} | last_airdate = | callsign_meaning = "XV Abilene", with the Roman numeral for 15 | sister_stations = ''Nexstar:'' KTAB-TV, KRBC-TV | former_callsigns = | former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 15 (UHF, 2001–2009) | former_affiliations = | erp = 31 kW | haat = {{convert|299|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | facility_id = 62293 | coordinates = {{coord|32|16|31.6|N|99|35|24.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}} | licensing_authority = FCC | website = {{url|www.myfoxzone.com}} }}
'''KXVA''' (channel 15) is a television station in Abilene, Texas, United States, affiliated with Fox and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by the Tegna subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group; Nexstar also owns CBS/Telemundo affiliate KTAB-TV (channel 32) and operates NBC affiliate KRBC-TV (channel 9). KXVA broadcasts from a transmitter located in rural southwestern Callahan County. Its operations and local productions are housed at sister station and fellow Fox affiliate KIDY in San Angelo; the two stations are commonly branded as "Fox West Texas" and largely simulcast the same programming, including local newscasts covering both areas.
==History== In 1992, Sage Broadcasting Company established K54DT "KDT" (call letters changed to KIDZ-LP in 1996), a translator of KIDY, to serve San Angelo. However, when the NFL came to Fox in 1994, its insufficient coverage meant that Fox sold the rights to air its football package to ABC affiliate KTXS.<ref name="Abil940429">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87118750/ktxs-outfoxes-kdt-for-local-cowboys/|date=April 29, 1994|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87118769/football/ 12A]|first=Lance|last=Fleming|title=KTXS outFOXes KDT for local Cowboys coverage|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The wife of one of KIDY's owners, doing business as Star Broadcasting, then filed in 1995 to build a station on channel 15.<ref name="Abil950214">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87118849/abilene-may-receive-sixth-tv-station/|date=February 14, 1995|page=1A|first=Doug|last=Williamson|title=Abilene may receive sixth TV station|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Tue --> Four applications were received in total for channel 15, but because the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and subsequent amendments shifted all new commercial broadcast stations to being awarded in auctions, the four parties then were ordered to bid on the allotment. That never came to pass, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a settlement agreement clearing the way for the Star Broadcasting application in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/wireless/auctions/25/releases/mx_3.pdf|title=Re: Applications for New Television Station on Channel 15 at Abilene, Texas|date=July 1999|publisher=FCC|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref>
A final construction permit for channel 15 was issued on June 15, 2000, but the call letters KXVA had already been announced, as had been the programming plan: to move Fox to the new full-power station and convert the low-power outlet into a UPN affiliate.<ref name="Abil000504">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97810900/new-station-to-carry-more-sports-upn-pr/|date=May 4, 2000|page=1D|first=Brien|last=Murphy|title=New station to carry more sports, UPN programming|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The new station's startup was pushed back from a planned September or October 2000 launch due to equipment delays<ref name="Abil001001">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97811033/fox-gains-new-local-station-upn-takes-o/|date=October 1, 2000|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97811104/ 3B]|first=Brien|last=Murphy|title=Fox gains new local station; UPN takes over KIDZ full-time|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and bad weather affecting the construction of the tower<ref name="Abil010106">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97811151/abilenes-new-fox-affiliate-kxva-expec/|date=January 6, 2001|page=2AA|first=Brien|last=Murphy|title=Abilene's new Fox affiliate, KXVA, expected to broadcast next week|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Sat --> to January 18, 2001.<ref name="Abil010119">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97811256/kxvaabilenes-fox-affiliate-hits-air/|date=January 19, 2001|page=3AA|first=Brien|last=Murphy|title=KXVA—Abilene's Fox affiliate hits air|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Fri --> It was the first new full-power TV station in Abilene since KTAB-TV (channel 32) began in October 1979.<ref name="Abil010123">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97811370/full-power-now/|date=January 23, 2001|page=4AA|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=Full power now|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|location=Abilene, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><!-- Tue -->
In 2008, the station was purchased by Bayou City Broadcasting in a group deal for approximately $3 million. On September 27, 2012, Bayou City Broadcasting announced an agreement to sell KXVA and its seven other television stations to the Dallas-based London Broadcasting Company (the sale price initially was not disclosed). The sale marked a temporary exit from the broadcasting industry for the company's owner DuJuan McCoy, who planned on refocusing his company to acquire major network affiliates in mid-sized markets larger than San Angelo and Abilene.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/62479/temporary-exit-with-fox-duo-sale-by-mccoy|title=Temporary Exit With Fox Duo Sale by McCoy|work=TVNewsCheck|date=September 27, 2012}}</ref> The FCC granted its approval of the sale on November 14; the sale was completed on December 31.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101535867&formid=905&fac_num=58560|publisher=FCC CDBS|title=Consent to License Transfer Reassignment|access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref>
On May 14, 2014, the Gannett Company announced that it would acquire KIDY, KXVA, and four other London Broadcasting stations for $215 million; Gannett CEO Gracia Martore touted that the acquisition would give the company a presence in several fast-growing markets and opportunities for local advertisers to leverage its digital marketing platform.<ref name=tvnc-londongannett>{{cite web|title=Gannett Buys 6 London Broadcasting Stations|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/76329/gannett-buys-6-london-broadcasting-stations|work=TVNewsCheck|access-date=May 14, 2014}}</ref> The sale was completed on July 8.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/77580/gannett-completes-london-broadcasting-buy|title=Gannett Completes London Broadcasting Buy|work=TVNewsCheck|access-date=July 8, 2014}}</ref> 13 months later, on June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. KXVA was retained by the latter company, named Tegna.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed {{!}} TEGNA|url = http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|publisher=Tegna|access-date = June 29, 2015}}</ref>
Nexstar Media Group, owner of KTAB-TV and operator of KRBC-TV (channel 9) in Abilene, acquired Tegna in a deal announced in August 2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=August 19, 2025 |title=Nexstar Buying Tegna For $6.2 Billion |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |access-date=August 19, 2025 |website=TVNewsCheck |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250819205146/https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/nexstar-buying-tegna-for-6-2-billion/ |archive-date= August 19, 2025}}</ref> and completed on March 19, 2026.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Ted |date=March 19, 2026 |title=Nexstar Closes Tegna Merger Following FCC And DOJ Approval |url=https://deadline.com/2026/03/fcc-approves-nexstar-tegna-merger-1236760998/ |access-date=March 20, 2026 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> A temporary restraining order issued one week later by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, later escalated to a preliminary injunction, has prevented KXVA from being integrated into KTAB and KRBC.<ref name="POLI260328">{{cite web |last=Svirnovskiy |first=Gregory |date=March 28, 2026 |title=Nexstar-Tegna deal on ice after judge issues temporary restraining order |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/28/nexstar-tegna-media-merger-00849504 |access-date=April 17, 2026 |website=POLITICO}}</ref><ref name="Dead260418">{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |last2=Hayes |first2=Dade |last3=Patten |first3=Dominic |date=April 18, 2026 |title=Nexstar-Tegna Merger Frozen As Antitrust Battle Continues; CA AG Says "This Merger Is Illegal, Plain & Simple" |url=https://deadline.com/2026/04/nexstar-tegna-merger-blocked-2-1236784770/ |access-date=April 18, 2026 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
==News operation== In 2009, KIDY and KXVA began airing simulcasts of the 9 p.m. newscast of KABB, the Fox affiliate in San Antonio, which were augmented in 2010 with a simulcast of KABB's morning newscast. In addition to local news headline updates aired during these programs, KXVA provided hourly local news updates weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with headlines and news information provided by the ''Abilene Reporter News'' newspaper.
On January 20, 2014, KXVA debuted ''Fox News First at Nine'', a half-hour 9 p.m. newscast produced from San Angelo, as part of the launch of local news for KXVA and KIDY. The KABB morning news simulcast has been replaced by other programming including ''The Texas Daily'' and ''The Broadcast'', news and interview programs produced by its Dallas then-sister station KTXD-TV.
On August 2, 2016, KXVA re-launched its news operation, moving its 6:30 p.m. news to 6 p.m. and moving its prime time newscast to 10 p.m., and introducing a new studio, standalone website, and on-air branding as "Fox 15".<ref>{{cite web|title=Update: KXVA, Fox 15, Relaunched in Abilene|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/marketshare/2016/08/05/update-kxva-fox-15-relaunched-in-abilene/ |website=TVNewsCheck|access-date=August 21, 2016}}</ref> By 2019, the two stations had recombined their news operation and branding as Fox West Texas with a half-hour 6 p.m. newscast and an hour-long 9 p.m. newscast. A shared morning show, ''Wake Up West Texas'', aired on both stations until 2020.
==Technical information== ===Subchannels=== The station's signal is multiplexed: {| class="wikitable" |+ Subchannels of KXVA<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KXVA#station|title=RabbitEars query for KXVA|access-date=March 17, 2022|website=rabbitears.info}}</ref> ! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | Res. ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming |- ! scope = "row" | 15.1 | 720p || KXVA-DT || Fox |- ! scope = "row" | 15.2 | rowspan="7"|480i || KIDZ || Independent with MyNetworkTV |- ! scope = "row" | 15.3 | COZI || Cozi TV |- ! scope = "row" | 15.4 | QUEST || Quest |- ! scope = "row" | 15.5 | Crime || True Crime Network |- ! scope = "row" | 15.6 | OPEN || [[Dark (broadcasting)|[Blank]]] |- ! scope = "row" | 15.7 | GetTV || Great |- ! scope = "row" | 15.8 | SHOP-LC || Shop LC |}
In 2011, KXVA added a second digital subchannel as a simulcast of KIDZ-LD. On January 25, 2018, KIDZ signed off and KXVA-DT2 became the sole MyNetworkTV affiliate for the Abilene market.
===Analog-to-digital conversion=== Because it was granted an original construction permit after the FCC finalized the digital television allotment plan on April 21, 1997, the station did not receive a companion channel for a digital television signal. KXVA shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 15, on February 17, 2009, and "flash-cut" its digital signal into operation UHF channel 15.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/kxva-fcc-wrong-about-dtv-switch-list-41729|first=John|last=Eggerton|date=June 5, 2009|title=KXVA: FCC Wrong About DTV Switch List|work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>
===Translators=== KXVA's signal is relayed on the following translator stations:
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|58571|3=K34RK-D}}''' Albany *'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|58559|3=K17PM-D}}''' Brownwood
There were two additional translators. KIDT-LD (channel 44) at Stamford closed in August 2020 to allow US Cellular to commence 600 MHz cellular service and never reopened on a new channel; the license was surrendered on July 8, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f917a62b850017a8206ace427f3&id=25076f917a62b850017a8206ace427f3&goBack=N|title=Cancellation Application|date=July 8, 2021|publisher=FCC Licensing and Management System|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}</ref> KIDB-LD (channel 35) at Sweetwater closed in March 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f917f6bcef3017f899d66d4218b&id=25076f917f6bcef3017f899d66d4218b&goBack=N|title=Cancellation Application|date=March 17, 2022|publisher=FCC Licensing and Management System|accessdate=March 17, 2022}}</ref> On February 23, 2026, an FCC rule change required stations licensed as broadcast translators and not low-power TV stations, including the remaining two, to be assigned translator-type call signs. As a result, KIDV-LD became K34RK-D and KIDU-LD became K17PM-D.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-233A1.pdf|date=March 11, 2026|title=Media Bureau Announces TV Translator Call Sign Changes|publisher=Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == *{{official website|http://www.fox15abilene.com/}}
{{Abilene/Sweetwater TV}} {{Texas English TV}} {{NXST TV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kxva}} Category:2001 establishments in Texas Category:Cozi TV affiliates Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates Category:Great Entertainment Television affiliates Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates Category:Nexstar Media Group Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates Category:Television channels and stations established in 2001 XVA Category:True Crime Network affiliates